Slub catcher



E. J. ABBOTT sLuB CATCHER Izzyezar gli el ,55,0%

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Filed Oct. 19, 1948 E. J. ABBOTT Dec. 30, 1952 SLUB CATCHER Filed oct. 19. l

Y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Y ,l/JMW jf Patented Dec. 30, 1952 SLUB CATCHER Edward J. Abbott, Wilton, N. H., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Abbott Worsted Mills, Incorporated, Wilton, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Application October 19, 1948, Serial No. 55,303 14 Claims. (Cl. ZEG-64) This invention relates to slub-catchers adapted to break yarn upon encountering an imperfection in the yarn, such for instance as an en largement such as a slub or anunduly large knot. The invention is particularly applicable to slub-catchers for high speed winding'machines in which there is a problem due to the accumulation of waste or ily on and around the slub catcher.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a smb-catcher that is` automatically self- Y cleaning. Another object is to provide for periodically opening the yarn passage of the slubcatcher and for cleaning the slub-catcher without allowing waste or fly to enter in between the elements of the slub-catcher.

Further objects of the invention are `to provide a construction in which the yarn passage can be accurately dened and maintained at the desired width and in which the width of the yarn passage can be readily altered by change of one of the elements in a quick and easy manner.

Further objectsof theinvention and advantageous features will be apparent from this specication and its accompanying drawings in which the invention is explained by the description of a preferred' example thereof.

In the drawings, j

Fig. 1` is a left-hand view, partly in vertical section, of a portion of a winding machine and showing in left elevation the head portion of a traveling winding unit;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the head of the winding unit of Fig. 1 including a slub-catcher of the present invention;4 v l Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section showing a pore tion of the head ofthe winding unit, including a slub-catch'enand operating mechanism for the slub-catcher cooperating with the frame of the winding machine;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view, to a larger scale than the previous `iigures, showing the slubcatcher in plan view in its normal operation condition, and f Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the slub-catoher with its` yarn passage open.

Although of general applicability in the textile industry, the slub-catcherof `the present inven- F tion will be illustrated by way of example as applied to a traveling spindle' winding machine such for instance as the automaticwinding machine of copending application Serial No. 26,329, iled May 1l', 19423,*comprising `a large number of traveling winding units, such as shown in Fig. 8 of that application, adapted to wind yarn during their travel `in a closed path around the machine. w

The head portionlll, and upright portion l; of such a winding unit, and the upper rail 2t of the track of such machine, are shown in Fig. l, and it will beunderstood that the `winding unit travels along the trackZ, toward the observer in Fig. 1 and toward the left in Figsj2 and As shownA in Fig. 1, yarn` Y, coming from a suitable supply bobbin at thelower portion of the traveling unit runs generally upwardly and in contact with the `outer facesof yarn guide blocks 2| and 22 which extend outwardly from an apron plate 24 at the head ofthe winding unit, and thence runs on an inclined path to a reciprocating ithread guide 25 and thence onto a winding package P which is rotated by .fric tional contact with a drive roll 26. A pair of guide rods 21, 28 aresecured to both of the guide blocks 2| and 22 and lie closely adjacent at these guide blocks so as to center the yarn in its course from the lower guide block 2l `to the upper guide block ,22, the rods 21 and 28 flaring outwardly so as toreceive a yarn and directit to its` centered position. Between the guideblocks 2l and 22 the yarn may be acted on by any' suitable tension device, for instance as shown, a pair of yieldingly opposed disks or plates 3), 3l between which the yarn is adapted to enter. A hook-like member 35 may be provided` below the lower guide block 2l to retain the run of yarn closely adjacent to the lower guide block 2|;`

The slub-catcher of the ,present invention is preferably located to` act on the centered vertical run of yarn between the guide blocks 2i .and 22. In its simplest form, as here illustrated, the slub-catcher of this invention includes opposed elements which normally -cooperate in defining a vyarn passage of appropriate width to' esclude the passage of an objectionable enlargement such as a; slub, one -of lsuch opposed elements being arranged to slidewith relation to the other as will hereinafter appear. As will hereinafter appear, the sliding arrangement permits exposure of a side of the yarn passage normally covered by one of the opposed elements. Moreover, the sliding arrangement permits a portion ofone element to slide incontact with that portion Yof the `other element that normally deiines one side of the yarn passage. 'As will be seen, the con# struction ofthe slub-catcher illustrated herewith is adapted to prevent the two elements from becoming 'separated by waste or fly. Provision is made for cleaning the slub-catcher without impairing the accuracy of the spacing of the two elements that deiine the yarn passage. Moreover, for convenience in setting the yarn passage to a desired width, one of the opposed elements can readily be removed and can have substituted therefor a similar element formed to provide a yarn passage of a predetermined width as desired, and this change of elements can be done quickly and without the need for tools.

In the preferred illustrated construction the slub-catcher includes two elements in the form of blocks 40 and 4| having their opposed surfaces accurately ground to t closely one againstl the other excepting at their outer ends as shown in Fig. 4, so as to form slide bearing surfaces on which one block can slide with relation to the other. At the outer end of one of the blocks, for instance block 4|, its surface which faces the other blockis recessed' as at 42, preferably byl grinding,` so-that this recessedv surface42 together with the opposite surface of the block 40 formsV a yarn passage. The yarn passage may be ofany desired width, for instance in the'regionl around .0010 inch to .0024- inch, to suit the yarn being handled.'

Block 48v may be secured, for instance by screws, to the vertical portion of'apron plate 24 as shown in Figs, 1 and 4 immediately beneath the upper guide block 22,V and block 4| may be slidably held by a plate which is secured to the lowerY surface of block 40 and extends under block 4|, as shown in Figs'.A 1 and 2.

Blockr 4| whichl is herein shown as the slidable block, is recessedv asl at 46 to recel-vera plunger 4S slidingly held within a crank arm 49 and urged against the block 40 by an interior spring 5|.

Crank arm 49 is secured to the upper end of a shaft 5|) which is rotatable in a bracket'52 and bent at its lower portion to form a further crank arm 5 3. A spring 56 connected to the upright of the winding unit and tothe crank arm 53 normally holds the crank arms 53 and 49 in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position, as in Fig. 4, the recessed surface 42 of the block 4| forms a yarn passage with theblock 40, adapted to receive the running yarn.

The interiorl spring 5| tends continuously to project the plunger48 from the crank 49` and' against' the slidable block 4| to hold the slidable blockV 4| firmly against the stationary block 40.

At intervals duringV thev winding, for instance as the windngunit passes a predetermined place on the framek of the machineL the lower crank arm 53 engages a stationary cam 51 adapted to.

force the crank arm 53 outwardly to the Vbrokenline position of Fig. 3, rotate the shaft 50 Vand cause the crank arm 49 and plunger'y 48 to slide the slidable block 4| forwardly to the position of Fig. 5. In this movement the surface portion of stationary block 40 that normally definesv one side of the yarn passage is slid overA by the accurately ground surface of slidable block 4 I., with consequent removal of waste or ily. Simultaneously the side of the yarn passage normally covered by block 40 is uncovered, as in Fig. 5, and any waste or fly that has tended to accumulate in the yarn passage is free to drop out.

In the forward position of the sldable block 40, as shown in Fig. 5, the spring 5|. and. plunger 48 hold the blocks 4| and 40 rmly in contact, so that waste or fly cannot separate the slide bearing surfaces of these elements. Thus when the slidable block 4| is returned to normal pos-if 4 tion, it is assured that the width of the yarn passage will be the same as before the yarn passage was opened.

Upon the winding unit passing the cam 51, the crank arm 53 is released by cam 51 and the spring 56 restores the movable parts of the slubcatcher to their normal positions.

Ordinarily cam 51 can be of relatively short length in the direction of travel of the winding units, and can be located at a place where the winding package is being rotated by the roll 2E to wind the yarn. With this arrangement the slub-catcher is automatically slid open and cleaned While the yarn is running in contact with the recessedsurface 42, and is quickly restored to the normal position of Fig. 4. This mode of operation facilitates; the cleaning of the surface 42 because the fast traveling yarn tends to dislodge waste or i'ly therefrom when the slub-catcher is momentarily opened. When the slub-catcher is open, it will ofcourse allowV avislubA to pass, but the opening .and closing` can.A be'v accomplished so quick-lythat only'a very shertlength or yarn can pass the slub-catoher'while the sluis-catcher isA in itsopen condition;

The ability toy clean` the slubfcatcher during runningjrof' the yarn is also advantageous in enabling thisl cleaning operation to take place ata number of points around the machinev without waitingfor the winding;l units tc, reach an endof the machine where their yarns cease winding;

Particularly if carri 51 is located ata place where the Winding` units; are inactive. sliclias. at an endiof. the. machined-may be desired to provide an air blast nozzxle to poperate with the suc.- cessivel open, slubf-catcllers to cleall, lhlllflllther, and' U- SL. l?aie.nt.ll0...1.622.607. may be referred t0 as showing use of." an air. blastte clean. anA open slubfcatcher. Hvwevenordinarily, such air. blast will not vbe necessary.

By manually swinging: thecrank .49. and slidable blockA 4| a little farther forward than shown in Fig. 5, the. slidable blOck 4J may beremoved without the usefof tools, the plunger 48 slightly retracting into the hollow arm 49 to permit this. Thereupon `another blockV 4|.` having its surface 42 recessed to the desired depth, Caribe inserted, also without the use of tools,vv and the spring 56 of Fig. 3l will carry the new block 4| to its normal operative position of Fig. 4. The whole set of slub-catchers of a winding machine can very lfidilyA be reset toa different. width of yarn pas- Sasein this. mannen v l Cla-im:

1. A slub-catcher including opposed abutting elements shaped and positioned to cooperate4 nermllly lli ellllg a: Yarn. Pafagebetween. them, and. meansactine. periedieally to slide one oi said elements abilities relaties te. the einer elem ni suieieetly te exposesu .stantiallr an satire. sid@ of the yarn passage.

2- A Slut-catcher. including @Raised elements Shaped. and. positioned. te sooner-ete normally .in defining a yarn passage between. them, .Said clef ments having mutually fitting slide bearing surfaces.l and means acting periodically toslide one of said elements relatively to the other element, withsad bearing. ,Slllfs GQIlllaGll Sllllltly te expose, substantially an entire side. of the yarn passage.

.3. A slab-catcher ,including two abutting' clef. ments having normally opposed cooperating Surf faces delicias a yarn passage between ihen. and means acting perodfllly toY shift one of said ele? ments in abutting relation to the other element and in a path which is parallel with its passagedefining surface, sufficiently to project such passage-defining surface substantially entirely beyond the passage-defining surface of the other element.

4. A slub-catcher including two passage-defining elements having opposed mutually fitting contacting surfaces, one of said elements being recessed opposite to a passage-defining portion of the surface of the other element to cooperate with such portion in defining a yarn passage, the elements being relatively shiftable, with said surfaces in contact, sufficiently to cause the recessed part of one element to lie substantially entirely beyond said passage-defining portion of the surface of the other element.

5. A slub-catcher including two passage-defining elements having opposed mutually fitting contacting surfaces, one of said elements being recessed opposite to a passage-defining portion of the surface of the other element to cooperate with such portion in defining a yarn passage, the elements being relatively shiftable, with said surfaces in contact, sufficiently to displace a nonrecessed portion of the recessed element along and in contact with said passage-dening portion of the surface of the other element.

6. A slub-catcher including opposed elements shaped and positioned to cooperate normally in defining a yarn passage between them, one of said elements being slidable with relation to the other element to expose a side of the yarn passage normally covered by the other said element, a crank, an extension projectable from the crank, spring means for urging the extension against the slidable element and means for moving the crank to slide the slidable element.

7. A slub-catcher adapted for ready change of one of its elements to provide the desired width of yarn passage, the slub-catcher including two elements having flat mutually fitting slide bearing surfaces, one element being recessed to define the yam passage in cooperation with the other said element, means for supporting said elements so that said recessed element is removable from said other element by sliding of its slide bearing surface on the slide bearing surface of the other element, and manually displaceable means for urging said recessed element into cooperative relation to said other element.

8. A textile machine including means for winding yarn and a slub-catcher comprising opposed abutting elements shaped and positioned to cooperate in defining a passage for the yarn being wound, one of said elements being slidable in abutting relation to the other element, suiiiciently to expose substantially an entire side of the yarn passage, and means for periodically cleaning the slub-catcher during winding of the yarn comprising means for sliding said slidable element to expose said side of the yarn passage while the winding yarn extends therethrough.

9. A textile machine including means for winding yarn and a slub-catcher comprising opposed abutting elements one of which is recessed to define with the other element a passage for the yarn being wound, said recessed element being slidable in abutting relation to the other element sufficiently to expose substantially an entire side of the yarn passage, and means for periodically sliding said recessed element back and forth so to expose said side of the yarn passage and cover the same, during winding of the yarn.

10. A slub catcher including two abutting members disposed side by side and having surface portions which, in the normal relative position of said members, are opposed and define a yarn passage therebetween, said members having bearing surfaces in contact with each other and being shiftable relatively to each other, with said bearing surfaces in contact, to a relative position presenting substantially the entire yarn passage defining surface portion of one of said members out of opposed relation to the yarn passage defining portion cf the other member, exposing substantially said entire yarn passage defining surface portion of said one member, said bearing surfaces of said members being in contact with each other in a plane parallel t0 a said yarn passage dening surface portion, and mechanism urging the members into their said normal. relative position.

11. A slub catcher including two abutting members disposed side by side and having surface portions which, in the normal relative posi tion of said members, are opposed and define a yarn passage therebetween, said members having bearing surfaces in contact with each other and being shiftable relatively to each other in a straight line of motion parallel to said bearing surfaces and with said bearing surfaces in contact, to a relative position presenting substantially the entire yarn passage dening surface portion of one of said members out of opposed relation to the yarn passage defining portion of the other member, exposing substantially said entire yarn passage defining surface portion of said one member, said bearing surfaces of said members being in contact with each other in a plane parallel to a said yarn passage defining surface portion, and mechanism urging the members into their said normal relative position.

12. A slub catcher including two abutting members disposed side by side and having surface portions which, in the normal relative position of said members, are opposed and define a yarn passage therebetween, said members having bearing surfaces in contact with each other, one of said members being shiftable relatively to the other said member, with said bearing surfaces in contact, to a position presenting substantially the entire yarn passage defining surface portion of said shiftable member out of opposed relation to the yarn passage defining portion of the other member, exposing substantially said entire yarn passage defining surface portion of said shiftable member, said bearing surfaces of said members being in contact with each other in a plane parallel to a said yarn passage defining surface portion, and mechanism urging said shiftable member into its normal position relative to the other member.

13. A slub catcher including two abutting members disposed side by side and having surface portions which, in the normal relative position of said members, are opposed and define a yarn passage therebetween, said members having bearing surfaces in contact with each other and being shiftable relatively to each other, with said bearing surfaces in contact, to a relative position presenting substantially the entire yarn passage defining surface portion of one of said members out of opposed relation to the yarn passage defining portion of the other member, exposing substantially said entire yarn passage defining surface portion of said one member, said bearing surfaces of said members being in the ,saine :as .the yarn passage defining surface Vthe entire yarn Ypassage defining surface portion 0I said shiftable member out of opposed relation to the yarn passage dening portion ef the other member, exposing substantially said entire vyarn passage defining surface portion of said shiftable member, said bearing surfaces of said members 8 .bengvin `the same v,plane `as the `yarn passage defining surface portion of the 'said other member, andmechanism urging said shiftable member into its normal position relative Ito the said other member.

EDWARD J. ABBOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,622,607 Peterson Mar. 29, 1927 1,870,152 Taylor Aug. 2, 1932 2,020,704 Snierson Nov. 12, 1935 2,091,209 MacGregor Aug. 24, 1937 2,155,900 Hitchcock ,Apr. 25, 1939 2,292,986 Barnes Aug. 11, 1942 

